Preserving Corral Bluffs is no easy task. Blanketed by a number of private property owners, a number of things have to fall in place to make preservation possible.

With the successful outcome of the Colorado Supreme Court's decision on the TOPS Extension, new funding for open space projects will begin in 2009. It is possible that some funds could be available earlier if Red Rock Canyon were to be re-financed. However, the City TOPS Working Committee is examining several other parcels for preservation that have been in the priority hopper for a while. These include Manitou Springs Section 16 and the Top of Cheyenne Mountain.

Corral Bluffs will have to go into a prioritization process under the City's TOPS Program and compete with a number of projects.

To start the process, a TOPS application will need to be submitted to the Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department. The Trails and Open Space Coalition will most likely do that in the coming months but is also looking a number of other properties as well to submit applications for. After that, the TOPS process springs into action with a technical staff review; then an evaluation by the TOPS Working Committee will need to be done. Visits to the site will be scheduled and over a period of time, its place in the priority list will have to be established. This process could easily take a number of years. A number of obstacles such as the multiple ownership will have to be faced. Other properties in the City's master plan are expected to have applications surface and will certainly compete as well.